NHS pumps £20m into PCN and community pharmacy-led Covid-19 vaccination sites

The NHS is to provide an additional £20 million to support primary care network (PCN) and community pharmacy-led Covid-19 vaccination sites.

Each Sustainability Transformation Partnerships (STP) and Integrated Care Systems (ICS) has been allocated a proportion of the £20m funding to boost the vaccination drive.

"We will provide an additional £20 million to ICS/STPs to support primary

care providers to draw down additional staff through their lead employer

to help deliver the Covid-19 vaccination programme between 16 June

and 14 July 2021, a letter issued on June 10 said.

The funding has been allocated on the basis of site numbers to provide an average of seven additional staff for the four week period covering a range of roles depending on need.

The letter said over 100,000 experienced and trained staff as well as volunteers, fully vetted and trained, were ready to help with vaccination delivery and workforce.

It asked the ICSs to work with their PCNs, community pharmacy-led vaccination sites and their lead employer to ensure this funding is deployed where it is most needed to increase uptake and tackle health inequalities.

'Pharmacy appointment for second dose could be brought forward'

On another note, the NHS leadership asked CCGs and ICSs to consider  supporting community pharmacies to bring forward appointments and maximise second dose appointments on the National Booking System.

CCGs have also been asked to minimise any burden associated with locally commissioned services while the push on vaccination was on.

Finally, the letter states that vaccination providers will be earlier notice of vaccine supply as the NHS moves to a new allocations timetable. They will be provided with the final weekly vaccine schedule 17 days prior to the start of the vaccination week.

"This should give sites more time to plan workforce and enable patients to book appointments further ahead than has been previously possible."